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Backyard ponds add value to a landscape while creating an aesthetically pleasing gathering place for your friends and family. Water features attract birds and other wildlife, creating a naturalistic setting for you to sit back and observe. Installing your own pond allows you to have complete control over the design, size, materials and location. The process is rather labor intensive and some steps require exactness to ensure that the pond is level and leak-free, but the end result will provide many hours of enjoyment.

1

Choose a location for your pond in full sunlight that is not under large trees. This will promote healthy growth of pond plants and minimize debris from falling in the water. Call your local utility companies and inform them of your digging prior to starting your project; wait for representatives to come to your property, locate and mark buried power cables, phone lines, water pipes or sewage lines and clear you for digging.

2

Remove all growing plants from the pond site. Rake the ground to remove rocks, twigs, leaves or other debris. Discard the removed material in a trash bin or place it on a compost pile.

3

Lay a garden hose on the ground, positioning it in the desired shape of the pond. Adjust the hose as needed until it marks the outline of the pond. Spray the ground just outside of the house with spray paint to mark the perimeter. Remove the hose.

4

Excavate the area inside the spray painted line to a depth of 18 to 24 inches with a shovel. Remove any rocks from the hole's bottom and sides. Rake the bottom of the hole to smooth it. Place a 2-by-4-inch board on the bottom of the hole. Set a level on top of the board. Check to ensure that the hole's bottom is level by sliding the board over soil while watching the level.

5

Dig a 10-inch-deep by 10-inch-wide rounded hole in the center bottom of the hole. This smaller hole will be the location of the pond pump. Level the bottom of the second hole.

6

Pour a 2-inch layer of soil around the edge of the larger pond hole. Smooth the soil ridge so that it slopes gradually downward away from the pond to ensure that excess rainfall falling outside of the pond will drain away from it instead of into it. Tamp the soil down firmly to secure it in place. Lay the board across the top of the pond. Place the level on the board and check to ensure that the sides are even in height. Add or remove soil if needed to adjust the height of the edges.

7

Spread a 1-inch layer of sand in the bottom of both holes using a rake. Tamp the sand down firmly. Check the sand's surface with the board and level to ensure that it is even.

8

Cover the sand with a one-half-inch layer of newspaper to add extra cushioning. Line the sides of the hole with newspaper as well.

9

Lay a rubber liner that is 5 feet longer and wider than the pond hole on the ground. Fold the liner in half lengthwise. Place the liner down on one side of the hole, positioning its folded edge down the hole's center. Unfold the pond liner bringing the top half up and over the uncovered half of the hole. Take your shoes off and step down in the hole. Walk around inside the hole, pushing the liner in place with your feet until it is full contact with the ground.

10

Place landscape rock in the bottom of the hole, around its edges. Pile multiple layers of rock up along the sides of the pond if desired. Place a ring of rock around the outside edge of the pond, covering the edges of the liner.

11

Place a flat rock in the bottom center of the smaller hole. Place the pond pump on top of the rock. Stretch the pump's cord and air hose across the bottom of the pond and up one of the sides. Leave enough slack in both the cord and hose so that they lay across the bottom of the pond. Position the hose so that its top is above the water level and rests among rocks on the side of the pond. Slightly bend the end of the hose so that it points downward toward the water. Cover the lines with additional landscape rock to hold them in place and hide them from view. Do not block the open end of the hose to allow water to flow out and back into the pond.

12

Fill the pond with water from a garden hose. Stop the flow of water once the water level is 2 to 3 inches below the top of the hole. Add a bucketful of water from a local river or canal to add beneficial microorganisms to your pond.

Things You Will Need

Rake

Garden hose

Spray paint

Shovel

2-by-4-inch board

Level

Sand

Newspaper

Rubber liner

Landscape rock

Pond pump

Bucket

River or canal water

Tip

Plant perennial shrubs and flowers around the perimeter of your pond to create a naturalized look.

Warning

Introduce plants or animals to the pond no sooner than 2 to 3 days after adding the water. This will allow the water to settle and any chlorine to evaporate.